Fast facts
about lung cancer:
·
It’s the number one cause of
cancer deaths in men and women worldwide.
·
Cigarette smoking is the main
risk factor.
·
Exposure to second-hand smoke
(passive smoking) can also cause lung cancer.
·
There are two types of lung
cancer: small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC),
which grow and spread differently.
·
The most aggressiveand rapidly
growing, SCLC constitute around 20% of lung cancers.
·
Treatment can involve a
combination of surgery, radiation,chemotherapy, targeted therapy and
immunotherapy.
·
Its general prognosis is poor
because doctors find lung cancer only at an advanced stage.
·
Five-year survival is around
54% for early-stage lung cancer localized
to the lungs, but only about 4% in advanced, inoperable lung cancer.
·
Smoking cessation is critical
in preventing its development.
·
Lung cancer tumours can be
benign or malignant (cancerous).
·
Benign tumours can usually be
removed and don’t spread to other body parts.
·
But malignant tumours often
grow aggressively locally where they emerge.
·
Tumour cells can also enter the
bloodstream or lymphatic system, then spreading to other sites in the body (metastasis).
·
Since lung cancer spreads or
metastasizes very early after forming, it is one of the most difficult cancers
to treat and extremely life-threatening.
·
While lung cancer can spread to
any organ, certain areas – the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bones – are
most vulnerable.
·
Primarily a disease of the
elderly, almost 70% of those with lung cancer are 65-plus, with less than 3%
occurring in people under 45 years. The median diagnosis age: 70 years.
·
Uncommon before the 1930s, it rose
dramatically after tobacco smoking soared.
Lung cancer causes and risk
factors:
Smoking
·
Around 90% of cases arise from tobacco
abuse.
·
Tobacco smoke has 4,000-plus
chemical compounds, many carcinogenic (cancer-causing).
Passive smoking
Inhalation of
tobacco smoke by non-smokers (living or working with smokers) is an established
risk factor leading to a 24% rise in risk for developing lung cancer.
Asbestos fibres
These are
silicate fibres that can persist in lung tissue for a lifetime after exposure
to asbestos.
Familial predisposition
All smokers don’t
eventually develop lung cancer,indicating other factors(e.g. individual genetic
susceptibility) may play a role in causing lung cancer.
Lung diseases
Having certain
lung diseases (notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD) is linked
with ahigher risk for developing lung cancer even after excluding the effects
of concomitant cigarette smoking.
Prior history
Lung cancer survivors
run a higher risk of developing a second
lung cancer than the general population has of developing a first lung cancer.
Air pollution
Vehicular, industrial,
and power plant pollution inflates the chances of developing lung cancer in
exposed persons.
Diesel exhaust
Diesel engine exhaust contains carcinogenic gases and soot (particulate matter).
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms are
varied depending on the location and tumour spread. Warning signs are not
always present or easy to spot. In some cases, there may be no pain or other
symptoms. A lung cancer victim may have:
No symptoms: In up to 25%
of cases, lung cancer is first discovered on a routine chest X-ray or CT scan
as a solitary small mass.Such patients often report no symptoms when the cancer
is found.
Cancer-related symptoms:
The cancer growth may interfere with breathing, leading to symptoms such as
cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood (haemoptysis).
If cancer invades nerves, it can cause
shoulder pain or paralysis of the vocal cords leading to hoarseness. Invasion
of the esophagus may lead to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
Metastasis-related symptoms: Lung cancer spreading to the bones may produce excruciating pain at
the sites. Cancer spreading to the brain
may cause neurologic symptoms,including blurred vision, headache, seizures, or
symptoms of stroke such as weakness or loss of sensation in some body parts.
Non-specific symptoms:These
include weight loss, weakness and fatigue. Depression and mood changes are also
common.
When to consult a doctor
Consult a Doctor of Cancer if symptoms associated with lung cancer exist, particularly if there is:
·
A new persistent cough or
worsening of an existing chronic cough
·
Blood in the sputum
·
Persistent bronchitis or chronic
respiratory infections
·
Chest pain
·
Unexplained weight loss and/or
fatigue
·
Breathing difficulties (shortness
of breath or wheezing).
Treatment and prevention
This mainly involves surgeryto remove the cancer, chemotherapy, or radiation, as well
as combinations of the treatments. Targeted therapies and hypnotherapy are used
as well. The treatment mode will depend on the location and extent of the tumour,
besides the patient’s overall health. Considering the gravity of the disease,
prevention is best. Avoiding tobacco products and exposure to second-hand smoke
is crucial. Screenings for early detection may be advised for high-risk
individuals.Get more help at https://nayatihealthcare.com/
